disable Background process - pdf

[Dandalo]

Is this option still available?

I didn't find it in the preferences, in the last version (13.08)

[amaarora]

Hi,

What exactly is the requirement? Do you wish to disable the background task? This option was never available in default installation of InDesign

-Aman

[winterm · Accepted solution]

1. Create blank text file “DisableAsyncExports.txt”.

2. Place it in:

MAC OS: /Applications/Adobe InDesign XX/Adobe InDesign XX.app/Contents/MacOS/DisableAsyncExports.txt

Win: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe InDesign XX\DisableAsyncExports.txt

(that said, path where your ID is installed).

3. To get things back, just remove/rename that text file.

Didn't test this in latest ID, but it works in earlier versions, so worth to try.

[Dandalo]

Still Works!!!

I was thinking wrong too, for me this option was not obsolete.  Because, I don't know why, but I remember saw disable background printing appears in the file menu after this "hack" text file been in my InDesign app.

[papacino]

Doesn't seem to be working in InDesign 2021.

[papacino]

Is there any other way to disable background PDF exports?

[AllenOne]

I just did this in ID 2021 and it seems to be working fine for me. I placed the empty txt file as described, re-launched ID 2021, saved a PDF, and bam - progress bars front and center. Maybe try double checking your placement? Or other details? Good luck!

[RudiHoremans]

Also put this script in startupscripts of INDD: controlBackgroundExport.jsx (code here)

/***********************************************************************************************************
        Enable/Disable Background Export
        Version : 1.0
        Type : StartUp Script
        InDesign : CS5/CS5.5
        Author : Marijan Tompa (tomaxxi) | Subotica [Serbia]
        Source : Matthew Laun (Adobe) | Bob Levine (@idguy)
        Info : http://forums.adobe.com/message/3689090#3689090
        Date : 19/05/2011
        Contact : indisnip (at) gmail (dot) com
        Twitter: @tomaxxi
        Web : http://indisnip.wordpress.com / http://inditip.wordpress.com
***********************************************************************************************************/

#targetengine "tomaxxiENGINE"

var appName = "Background Export";
var myVer = "1.0";
var myVerDate = "[19/05/2011]";

if(parseInt(app.version) < 7){
    alert("This version of InDesign is not supported!\nScript supports InDesign CS5 (7.0) or newer!", appName + " " + myVer + " | Info");
    exit();
}else{
    var fileRef = File(Folder.startup + '/DisableAsyncExports.txt');
    var actionNameD = localize({   en: "Disable", fr: "Désactiver", de: "Deaktivieren", es: "Desactivar", pt: "Desativar", sv: "Inaktivera",
                                            da: "Deaktiver", nl: "Uitschakelen", it: "Disabilita", fi: "Poista", cs: "Zakázat", pl: "Wyłącz",
                                            hu: "Letiltása", ru: "Отключить", tr: "Devre dışı", ro: "Dezactivaţi", uk: "Відключити"}) + " " + appName;
    var actionNameE = localize({   en: "Enable", fr: "Activer", de: "Aktivieren", es: "Habilitar", pt: "Habilitar", sv: "Aktivera",
                                            da: "Aktiver", nl: "Activeer", it: "Attiva", fi: "Avulla", cs: "Umožňují", pl: "Włącz",
                                            hu: "Engedélyezése", ru: "Включить", tr: "Etkinleştirmek", ro: "Permite", uk: "Включити"}) + " " + appName;
    backgroundExportInstall();
}

function backgroundExportInstall(){
    backgroundExportcontroller = {};
    
    var actionName = actionNameD;
    var action = app.scriptMenuActions.item(actionName);
    
    if(action == null) {
        var actionName = actionNameE;
        var action = app.scriptMenuActions.item(actionName);
        if(action == null) {
            var action = app.scriptMenuActions.add(actionName);
        }
    }

    action.checked = false;
    action.enabled = true;
    action.addEventListener("beforeDisplay", backgroundExportenableDisable);
    action.addEventListener("onInvoke", backgroundExporttoggle);
    backgroundExportcontroller.action = action;
    
    var fileMenu = app.menus.item('$ID/Main').submenus.item('$ID/&File');
    var refItem = fileMenu.menuItems.item('$ID/&Export');    
    
    fileMenu.menuItems.add(action, LocationOptions.after, refItem);
}

function backgroundExportenableDisable(){
    if(fileRef.exists){
        backgroundExportcontroller.action.title = actionNameE;
    } else {
        backgroundExportcontroller.action.title = actionNameD;
    }
}

function backgroundExporttoggle(){
    if(fileRef.exists){
        fileRef.remove();
    } else {
        fileRef.open('w');
        fileRef.close();
    }
}

Shows enable/disable background under file menu.

On Mac: Show inspector for /

Applications/Adobe InDesign 2021/Adobe InDesign 2021.app/Contents/MacOS

Change Sharing & permissions for all entries to read/write.

Enable/Disable background works fine for printing and PDF for print.

Not for interactive PDF. Anyone who can modify the script to include this ?

[Marketing1918]

Anyone have an updated workaround that works in InDesign 2025?  DisableAsyncExports worked successfully for us until the new release.

[DemShades]

Yeah, that's a very annoying problem. Sometimes it works if I delete/replace the 'DisableAsyncExports.txt' file but the problem is reappearing after I reboot my Macbook. Has anyone a workaround for this? I don't understand why Adobe isn't implementing an option to enable/disable the visibility of the pdf export bar.